4 August 2021
The State Government should be prioritising building more social housing, rather than slashing income and asset thresholds for those on the Housing Trust waiting list, say the SA Greens.
“Once again, we see the Liberals re-arranging the deckchairs while the state’s public housing system is sinking after years of under investment,” said the Greens Housing and Homelessness Spokesperson, Robert Simms MLC.
“Sadly, given the demand for housing at the moment, many of those on the waiting list have no prospect of being housed. Surely the Government should be prioritising getting more people actually into a house, rather than changing eligibility requirements?”
“Housing should be the right of each and every South Australian yet it is slipping further out of reach for too many in our community.”
“Additionally, there are serious questions about how the new eligibility requirements will work. Minister Lensink must urgently clarify whether the asset test includes superannuation after she appeared to leave the door open to this in an interview with ABC 891 this morning.”
“The idea that you could be punished in effect for having super is something that would have sent a chill down the spine of many listeners,” said Mr Simms.
Under the Government’s plan asset thresholds will be slashed from $482,500 to $48,250 for singles and from $616,000 to $61,000 for couples.